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Adding a Graphics Card to my HTPC system

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

Soldato
Joined
5 Oct 2004
Posts
7,395
Location
Notts
I'd like to game on my HTPC system so will need a PCI-E Card to boost the graphics. Currently I have my 22" Monitor plugged into the onboard graphics (Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H) and my Plasma hooked up via the HDMI.

If I add another card can I still use the onboard VGA and HDMI (VGA as 2nd monitor and HDMI for Plasma or will the PCI-E card disable them?

I'm thinking of a 4850 512MB as it seems the best option for 1680X1050 gaming and will make it a cheap upgrade.

Is that a good choice? Also, which would offer the quietest performance. I don't want to increase the volume of the HTPC as it's almost silent.

Thanks for any info :)
 
unfortunately the pci-e card will disbale the onbaord graphics output, bots pretty much all modern cards have two dvi utputs on them anyway, so you can still use the two monitors off of the one card, you can get dvi->vga->hdmi adapters very cheaply as well if the plasma only takes hdmi, as for the graphics card the 4850 seems like quite a solid choice, and should be reasonably quiet, there are options to adjust the fan speed on the software for it, just check your psu can handle it (450W +)
 
The 4670 cards probably would have been the perfect HTPC card due to their size, no PCIE power requirement and of course the price. But of course this card may limit graphics performance for some demanding games, unless you won't be playing on high resolutions and such.

As for a 4850 card, why not go for it's little brother, the 4830. It is only like 10-20% less performance, but for the price and possible option of overclocking it to 4850 speeds, it is a wonderful card.

If your case can fit this Sapphire model, then it would be perfect. The PCB is smaller than the standard 4830/4850 cards and the custom cooler does an exceptional job. Sapphire also do a 4850 version too, but unfortunately OcUK doesn't stock them.

I have this 4830 in my HTPC and it can handle some games perfectly fine at 1080p resolution on my 52" HDTV, or 1920x1200 on my monitor. For the price of this thing, it is a bargain!
 
Thanks for the info guys :)

I have the Antec Fusion Remote HTPC Case. Will a 4850 fit? I like the idea of the Sapphire 4830 though.

I'm a little concerned about the loss on my onboard HDMI as I bought the Gigabyte board specifically for it's ability to handle HD decoding etc. Will the 4830 do as well as the onboard chip?
 
The 46XX and even the older 3XXX series card (Which the onboard graphics is a 3200) will do HD decoding perfectly fine. So the 4830 will handle it no problems and if anything, much better as it is a more modern card. At least you would also get the benefit of great gaming performance too. And the cards will fit in that case easily.
 
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